Data interruption device and related method

ABSTRACT

A data interruption device (1) is described, between a plurality of control units (2) communicating through at least one communication protocol (6), designed to produce an electromagnetic interference inhibiting a data communication between the plurality of control units (2); moreover, the device (1) is equipped with at least one transformer (3) designed to transfer at least one signal on at least one transmission means (5) of the communication protocol (6), inducing such electromagnetic interference.

The present invention refers to a data interruption device, in particular in the automotive field.

Electronic, electric and electromechanical switches are known in the art, and are suitable to stop the communication of data on filiform conductors, by shearing the filiform conductors with a mechanical or electromechanical switch, physically preventing the passage of current and voltage, or through the insertion of a device interposed in “series” or in “parallel” in the filiform conductor, obstructing the passage of electric information. The operation of such known switches needs a physical interruption of the filiform conductor dedicated to transport data.

Moreover, the physical interruptions of the filiform conductor, through truncation, do not allow safeguarding integrity and originality of the system in which the conductor is inserted, or avoiding damages during the intervention, or avoiding the loss of warranty due to a modification to the infrastructure, and the structural complexity of the transmission network.

An anti-theft device is also known in the art, equipped with a resonance circuit, composed of a coil and a capacitor, designed to detect increases and decreases of the current which crosses the system with which such device is associated, such as for example the one disclosed in patent FR2304129.

Finally, an anti-theft device is also known, which is composed of a static switch, equipped with a coil, whose correct operation or not works as signaling device of a possible theft action, such as for example the one disclosed in patent FR2705935.

Object of the present invention is solving the above prior art problems, by providing a data interruption device designed to produce an electromagnetic interference.

Another object of the present invention is providing a data interruption device capable of inhibiting the operation and the motility of a means of locomotion during an action of a fraudulent getting hold.

A further object is providing a method for managing the interrupting device, capable of enabling a remote control of the interrupting device by a user.

A last object is providing a data interruption device capable of being arranged inside the means of locomotion in any position.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention, as will appear from the following description, are obtained with a data interruption device as claimed in claim 1. Preferred embodiments and non-trivial variations of the present invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

It is intended that all enclosed claims are an integral part of the present description.

It will be immediately obvious that numerous variations and modifications (for example related to shape, sizes, arrangements and parts with equivalent functionality) can be made to what is described, without departing from the scope of the invention as appears from the enclosed claims.

The present invention will be better described by some preferred embodiments thereof, provided as a non-limiting example, with reference to the enclosed claims, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of the device according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows an arrangement in a means of locomotion of the device according to the present invention;

FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6 show a three-dimensional view of some components of the device according to the present invention.

As known, currently the electronic control units, related to the wheel anti-locking system, to the stability control system, to the engine system, to the transmission system, to the door control system, to the air conditioning system, to the lights control system, etc. are placed in the means of locomotion and connected by a data communication channel, advantageously through two-wire differential serial communication line, which allows connecting the electronic control units and to be interfaced and exchange information.

Advantageously, with reference to FIG. 1, a data interruption device 1 according to the present invention is designed to produce an electromagnetic interference, such as, for example, a signal of an electric, electromagnetic nature or other similar one, inhibiting a data communication, through a communication protocol 6, such as, for example, a controller area network (Can-bus), between a plurality of electronic control units 2 arranged preferably in a means of locomotion 8, such as, for example, a car, or a motor-vehicle, or a truck, etc., inhibiting its operation and its motility, advantageously during an action of a fraudulent getting hold of the means of locomotion 8, such as, for example, theft, break-in or other similar action.

Moreover, the device 1 according to the present invention is equipped with:

-   -   at least one transformer 3 designed to transfer the signal on a         transmission means 5 of the communication protocol 6;     -   at least one managing unit designed to manage the operation of         the device 1;     -   a case composed of a first portion 7 a, and of a second portion         7 b, separate but designed to be connected during the signal         transfer from the transformer 3 on the transmission means 5 of         the communication protocol 6; and     -   at least one control means 11, such as, for example, a         transponder, a radio-control, or a mobile device through a web         application or other similar one, designed to send and detect an         activating and/or deactivating signal of the device by a user,         and equipped with a plurality of warning lights designed to         point out the correct operation of the control means 11, and the         correct communication thereof with the device 1.

In particular, the transformer 3 is composed of an electric conductor 4 wound on a first portion 3 a made of ferromagnetic material, composing a primary winding of the transformer 3, and of the transmission means 5 wound on a second portion 3 b made of ferromagnetic material, composing a secondary winding of the transformer 3, enabling a transfer of the signal, preferably of the square wave type oscillating at a frequency of about 100 kbps, from the primary winding to the secondary winding, and generating the electromagnetic interference with a voltage value Vs, preferably equal to 3V.

In particular, the supply voltage Vp of the device 1 inserted in the means of locomotion 8, is included between 12 Volt and 24 Volt, depending on the type of means of locomotion 8 in which the device 1 is inserted; moreover, since the secondary winding of the transformer 3 is composed of a single winding Ns of the transmission means 5 on the second portion 3 b of the transformer 3, the primary winding on the first portion 3 a of the transformer 3 is composed of a number of windings

Np obtained, depending on the supply voltage Vp of the device 1 and the single winding Ns of the transmission means 5 arranged on the second portion 3 b of the transformer 3, through the following relationships:

Np=(Vp*Ns)/Vs=(12V*1)/3V=4

Np=(Vp*Ns)/Vs=(24V*1)/3V=8.

Finally, the transformer 3 is equipped with a geometric configuration, assuming the shape of a U, or a C, or a I, designed to optimize its electromagnetic performances, guaranteeing a versatility during the assembling step of the transformer 3 inside the case.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, as a non-limiting example, the first portion 7 a of the case is designed to contain the first portion 3 a of the transformer 3, the managing unit and a supply means of the device 1, and the second portion 7 b of the case is designed to contain the second portion 3 b of the transformer 3.

In particular, the managing unit comprises:

-   -   a driver 10, such as, for example MIC4605-2YMT-T5, designed to         manage the primary winding on the first portion 3 a of the         transformer 3, through a control action of two MOSFETs,         preferably in a Push-Pull configuration;     -   at least one sensor means, such as, for example, a sensor,         designed to detect a possible change of position, and/or of         inclination of the means of locomotion 8, and/or a sensor         designed to detect a possible vibration of the means of         locomotion 8 equipped with the device 1;     -   a central unit 9, such as, for example a PIC18LF45K40E/MV         microcontroller or other similar one, designed to manage the         driver 10, and the sensor means, detecting possible data related         to the possible change of position, and/or of inclination of the         means of locomotion 8, and to be interfaced with the control         means 11; and     -   electric supply means.

The method for managing the device 1 according to the present invention comprises the following steps:

-   -   activation:         -   providing the device 1;         -   activating the control means 11 and verifying the connection             through Bluetooth technology or other similar one, between             the control means 11 and the device 1;         -   communicating between the control means 11 and the device 1             a plurality of status and operation information, related,             for example, to the activation status, the deactivation             status, the battery level, diagnostics, etc.;     -   alert:         -   detecting by the sensor means a plurality of data related to             positioning and/or inclination of the means of locomotion 8             provided inside the device 1, and/or detecting by the sensor             means a plurality of data related to the vibration of the             means of locomotion 8 equipped with the device 1;         -   sending the plurality of data to the central unit 9;         -   comparing such plurality of data with at least one reference             value pointing out the correct positioning of the means of             locomotion 8, and/or comparing such plurality of data with             at least one threshold value pointing out an allowed             vibration value of the means of locomotion 8;         -   if the result of such comparison is positive: repeating the             alert phase;         -   if the result of such comparison is negative: activating the             following alarm phase;     -   alarm:         -   activating the transformer 3 through the driver 10, and             generating the signal on the secondary winding of the             transformer 3;         -   generating the electromagnetic interference on the             communication protocol 6;         -   interrupting the data transmission between the plurality of             control units 2 arranged in the means of locomotion 8;         -   blocking the motility of the means of locomotion 8; and     -   deactivating the device 1. 

1. Data interruption device (1) between a plurality of control units (2) communicating through at least one communication protocol (6), characterized in that it is designed to produce an electromagnetic interference inhibiting a data communication between said plurality of control units (2), said device (1) being equipped with at least one transformer (3) designed to transfer at least one signal on at least one transmission means (5) of said communication protocol (6), inducing said electromagnetic interference.
 2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said transformer (3) is composed of at least one electric conductor (4) wound on a first portion (3 a) of said transformer (3), composing a primary winding of said transformer (3), and of at least one transmission means (5) of said communication protocol (6) wound on a second portion (3 b), composing a secondary winding of the transformer (3), enabling said transfer of said signal, from said primary winding to said secondary winding, and generating said electromagnetic interference with a voltage value (Vs).
 3. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it is arranged in a means of locomotion (8) and it is designed to inhibit the operation and the motility of said means of locomotion (8), during an action of a fraudulent getting hold of said means of locomotion (8).
 4. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said device (1) further comprises: at least one managing unit designed to manage said operation of said device (1); a case composed of a first portion (7 a), and of a second portion (7 b), separate but designed to be connected during said transfer of said signal from said transformer (3) on said transmission means (5) of said communication protocol (6); and at least one control means (11), designed to send and detect an activating and/or deactivating signal of said device (1) by at least one user, and equipped with a plurality of warning lights designed to point out the correct operation of said control means (11), and a correct communication of said control means (11) with said device (1).
 5. Device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said secondary winding of said transformer (3) is composed of a single winding (Ns) of said transmission means (5) on said second portion (3 b) of said transformer (3).
 6. Device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said primary winding on said first portion (3 a) of said transformer (3) is composed of a number of windings (Np) obtained depending on the supply voltage (Vp) of said device (1), on said voltage value (Vs) of said electromagnetic interference, and on said single winding (Ns) of said transmission means (5) arranged on the second portion (3 b) of the transformer (3), according to the following relationships: Np=(Vp*Ns)/Vs.
 7. Device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said first portion (7 a) of said case is designed to contain said first portion (3 a) of said transformer (3); said managing unit; and a supply means of said device (1).
 8. Device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said second portion (7 b) of said case is designed to contain said second portion (3 b) of said transformer (3).
 9. Device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that said managing unit comprises: at least one driver (10) designed to manage said primary winding on said first portion (3 a) of said transformer (3); at least one sensor means designed to detect a possible change of position, and/or of inclination of said means of locomotion (8), designed to detect a possible vibration of said means of locomotion (8); a central unit (9) designed to manage said driver (10) and said sensor means, detecting data related to said possible change of position, and/or of inclination of said means of locomotion (8), and to be interfaced with said control means (11); and supply means.
 10. Method for managing a device (1) according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: activation: providing said device (1); activating said control means (11) and verifying said connection between said control means (11) and said device (1); communicating, between said control means (11) and said device (1), a plurality of status and operation information; alert: detecting by said sensor means a plurality of data related to positioning and/or inclination of said means of locomotion (8) provided inside said device (1), and/or detecting by said sensor means a plurality of data related to said vibration of said means of locomotion (8); sending said plurality of data to said central unit (9); comparing said plurality of data with at least one reference value pointing out a correct positioning of said means of locomotion (8), and/or comparing said plurality of data with at least one threshold value pointing out an allowed vibration value of the means of locomotion 8; if the result of said comparison is positive: repeating said alert phase; if the result of said comparison is negative: activating the following alarm phase; alarm: activating said transformer (3) through said driver (10), and generating said signal on said secondary winding of said transformer (3); generating said electromagnetic interference on said communication protocol (6); interrupting said data transmission between said plurality of control units (2) arranged in said means of locomotion (8); blocking the motility of said means of locomotion (8); and deactivating said device (1). 